John Stark principal leaving at end of the year

By NANCY BEAN FOSTERUnion Leader CorrespondentJanuary 30. 2013 10:18PMWEARE - After three years of being far from home, John Stark Regional High School Principal Chris Mosca will be heading back to Maine and the search is on for a new administrator.

In a letter posted on the school's website, Mosca said he has informed the school board of his resignation effective June 30, the end of the school year. Mosca lives in the Augusta, Maine area, according to Asst. Supt. Pamela Shepard, but leaves his family to spend his weeks in Weare during the school year.

" . Because my work at the high school requires me to live a considerable distance from my family, I concluded after much reflection that I would like to seek career opportunities that could provide a greater sense of balance for me personally and professionally," Mosca said in the letter.

Shepard said Mosca's leaving will be a loss for the school district and credited the principal with bringing greater student involvement to a variety of areas at John Stark.

"There are now student representatives to the school board, he revived the student council and introduced an advisory program," Shepard said. "He has made a lot of positive changes for the school in the time he's been here."

The school board has been advertising for candidates to fill Mosca's shoes and will accept applications through Feb. 15. In the meantime, the school board is assembling a screening committee that will sort through the applicants. Shepard said the board is compiling a list of groups that should be represented on the committee, including teachers, members of the public at large and administrators, but hasn't selected the committee members yet.

From Feb. 15 through March 15, the committee will select three to four finalists to recommend to the superintendent. The finalists will be invited to interview with the superintendent and school board.

"We hope to have a final nomination by the April 10 school board meeting and the superintendent will select the new principal," said Shepard.